What did I miss?

I had my annual Oscar-night soiree last night. Somehow or other, conversation kept distracting me--to such an extent that I missed all the couture! So I went online today to catch up (to http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2012/02/27/84th_annual_ academy_awards_red_carpet & http://movies.yahoo.com/photos/2012-oscars-red-carpet-report-card-1330305129-slideshow/).

Here are the gowns that I love:

The 'collection' is a little surprising: lots of white dresses. I'm not a big white-dress fan. I loved the color (emerald) of Viola Davis's gown, but it had an unfortunate ruffled slit in its skirt. Yuck. For me, gown of the night is tied between Penelope (#2) and Octavia (#5).

Now, for the gowns that I really do not like. First up is the sibling of the young woman above, in the lovely pink gown. The white gown below on soeur Mara looks like an ill-fitting nightgown. And next is an admirably eco-sensitive gown that nonetheless has way, way too much going on. And a weirdly misshapen breastplate.

Kristen Wiig's getup looks like a dried-out husk of corn. And, sadly, Sandra Bullock, who usually hits it out of the park, just looked odd.

Then there's the problem of Kelly Osbourne. Hate the hair color, love the hairdo. That color ruins a truly glamorous look, because the dress is spot-on.

Early purple blooms

Our sun garden has yet to be cleared of last year's debris. Still, the weather drew forth little purple blossoms.

Can't see how to work this thing (long!)

I've been looking for a full-time job since at least November (longer, probably, but in earnest since Christmas, and constantly since the 51A filing). It's really not OK that, among other things(!), I have worked for the consulting outfit for 9 months, and only 4 of those months count as BCBA-supervised time. I need 18 supervised months to sit the exam. Still, only about half the jobs to which I've applied involve a BCBA.

I have at least one interview a week. I keep thinking this interview went well, that interview went very well--and then the employer makes no follow-up contact. I still mail out thank-yous for each meeting, increasingly feeling like an old-fashioned idiot. Should I die my hair back to its color 15 years ago? I have earned each gray hair through my experiences on earth, and I prefer to inhabit my skin fully. Should I be sure to say to each employer, "I will give you 150%, because I simply don't know how to give only 100%"?

In the meantime, I'm delaying the consulting outfit when it tries to place me again--not that it's constant. The agency is now wary of me, just as I'm wary of it.

Here are the big questions: Do I accept a non-behavior-analysis job--because of the pay? because of the opportunity to help children? What bar must a job exceed if it's not BCBA-supervised? (an education requirement? an expansion of management experience?) And, for those positions that do feature BCBAs, what bar must they not dip below? (the number of children served? the distance I'd need to travel?) Is there even a reason to think about these questions, when not a soul has offered me a thing?

I think an interview went very well on Friday, to become an Intensive Care Coordinator (the ICC is basically an on-call, in-home case worker). But then, another interview went very well two weeks before that. The Friday duo said they'd call me on Tuesday to set up a second interview...but then the two-weeks-ago duo said they'd call me for a second interview within three days. And nada. The ICC position requires a master's, so part of my education is honored; but there are no BCBAs involved.

I think that I have to develop a spreadsheet analysis page that, from now on, I can refer to before I even apply.

Wise words

http://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/2012/02/15/jimmy-t-wants-to-save-my-soul/#comment-53573

Joey C, who runs the local blog Good Morning Gloucester, has his head on straight (for the most part). If only more citizens of Cape Ann did as well!

P-Funk

At the end of the week, I saw a Parliament-Funkadelic concert with Tress and Melissa. The person on stage whom I remembered from last time was there: the muscular young dancer in the fur chaps. The show featured several lengthy jams, which are not my favorite thing, but which were quite enjoyable b/c of the thumping bass.

I'm still being treated for my foot (plantar fasciitis, aggravated due to my failure to see anyone about it for months on end). But I still got up to dance when I heard the opening to Flashlight.

On the way home Melissa and I took the orange line up to Oak Grove. I assured her that I did *not* just take her picture.

On Main Street

We parked with ease, right alongside this structure, which could be city hall:

Then we ate at a very nice bistro, where this striking work of art hung next to our table:

Along the water

The weather was nice when my friend Tress and I arrived. It gradually turned into a gray and overcast day.

Most of the actual waterfront in Edenton is public. There's a park, an empty marina (could be the time of year), and some historical community buildings, plus a little lighthouse. The main street forms the base stroke of a T, with the cross brace being the shore. At the intersection is the park and marina.

Edenton is prominent as the home of a Declaration signer and a first-round Supreme Court Justice, the birthplace of key figures in the underground railroad and the abolitionist movement (including Harriet Jacobs, author of Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl), the site of one of the first acts of political rebellion by a group of women on not-yet-U.S. soil, and the first capital of North Carolina, circa the 1730s.

Albemarle Sound

The sound waters were so peaceful. I'd love to see them respond to a storm. I asked about how the town (Edenton) fared during Hurricane Irene, and was told that there was very little damage. Many of the homes have metal, "West Indian"-style roofs as protection against hurricanes.

This cape is unremarkable except for being waterfront (look to the back of the yard).

This brick ranch is utterly unremarkable, hiding behind a tree. But it's a short block from the sound--at left, you can see a bridge. The same bridge is in the bottom picture. The brick ranch is for sale, $172,000.

Edenton

These are some of the homes near the sound in Edenton, North Carolina. Many (not pictured here) were 'average' homes, and nearly all were well tended--atypical for NC, in my experience.

I really fell for this town. It's an hour from the Outer Banks, part of the Inner Banks. It's further north than the areas that Vic and I scouted last year. Could this be our retirement spot?

There were a few very small homes, but only one modern home, above.

Yum breakfast dish

We stayed at a suites hotel in NC, where I was able to cook breakfasts and dinners. Not a lot of the recipes were memorable, but note: You have to try asparagus with olive tapenade on top. And here's a nice, easy breakfast recipe:

EGGS WITH FETA AND SPINACH (for one)
1 cup fresh spinach
2 lg eggs, beaten
1 oz crumbled feta cheese
salt and pepper

In a small skillet, with 1 tbs water, wilt the spinach over medium heat. (Drain if wet.)
Add eggs and cheese and cook until set.
Season and serve.

Getaway

I was trying to blog from my iPad, and all that I was able to log was the "headline" below. At least I got something posted while I was away!

I was feeling ill start to finish for the trip (and I'm still sick, ears blocked). Nonetheless, there were things to love.

First, I love it that my MIL, Marie, slipped my husband some cash for me to take with me. Considering that I haven't worked a single hour since filing that work-site 51A, the extra $ was more than welcome.
Second, I love it that Tress came with me, as she's such good company.
Third, I love it that we discovered Edenton, a very small, really pretty, soundside community (for retirement?) in NC. Pics to follow.
Fourth, I love it that, when we met with my cousin Garna on Sunday, she brought along her daughter Jaclyn, a high school senior, who proved smart, interesting, and a nice new connection made.

We are here